Method of drying clothing with auto shut off and prorated billing

Abstract

The method of drying of the present invention includes providing a dryer with a payment receiving means providing a heat source in thermal communication with the dryer. Clothes are then inserted into the dryer and a means of payment to the payment receiving means of the dryer is provided. A drying cycle is then initiated to operate the dryer. Moisture is sensed in the clothes ax the dryer is being operated. The dryer is turned off when the moisture in the clothes exceeds a predetermined amount representing a dry load. Payment is received from the means of payment while the dryer is in operation. Payment is stopped from the means of payment when the dryer has ceased operation. As a result, the user has paid only for the time for the dryer to provide a dry load of laundry.

Description

RELATED APPLICATIONS[0001]This application is a continuation of U.S. application Ser. No. 11,838,378, entitled “Method of Drying Clothing With Auto Shut Off and Prorated Billing,” filed on Aug. 14, 2007, which claims priority to U.S. Provisional Application Ser. No. 60 / 822,432, filed Aug. 15, 2006, incorporated by reference in their entirety.BACKGROUND OF INVENTION[0002]The present invention generally relates to drying apparatus and methods of operating the same. More specifically, the present invention relates to dryers for drying clothes and methods of operating the same. The present invention further relates to coin-operated (pay for use) clothes dryers and making such apparatus more efficient in operation and easier to use.[0003]In the prior art, clothes dryers are very well known in the art. In particular, coin-operated or pay for use clothes dryers are commonly used so that a person can use the dryer as needed to obviate the need to own one.[0004]Coin-operated clothes dryers a...

AI Technical Summary

Benefits of technology

"The present invention is a new and improved method of drying clothing that reduces energy costs while still providing a dry load of laundry to the user. It involves using a coin-operated clothes dryer and a payment receiving means to initiate a drying cycle. The dryer is turned off when the moisture in the clothes exceeds a predetermined amount, and the user is only charged for the time needed to dry the load. This method also provides better drying for clothes and generates more revenues for the laundry operator."

Problems solved by technology

However, in practice, this is not usually the case.

It is common that the clothes are still too wet after the purchased time period has expired.

Moreover, the over-drying of clothes not only unnecessarily adds cost to operation of the dryer for unneeded dry time but can damage the clothes.

This problem is exacerbated in the common situation of where a user buys much more time than is needed to ensure that when they return to the coin-operated laundry facility, their clothes will not be wet and in need of further drying.

In this scenario, over-dried clothes are an accepted drawback that is outweighed by not having to buy additional dry time requiring further wait time for the user.

Also, users commonly over-dry their clothes to use up all of the dry time that they have purchased to get “their money's worth”.

As illustrated above, over-drying of clothes is extremely common in a coin-operated laundry where excess energy is used thereby raising the overall cost of operation of the laundry.

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